Myths surrounding land based wind energy

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt (Alternative Energy More Expensive, Friday, July 4) is reported as saying that electricity production from "alternative sources" was more expensive than that from fossil fuels.

It is presumed in the first place that by "alternative" Dr Gatt really means "renewable" energy. "Alternative" refers to non-fossil energy sources such as, for instance, biofuels or energy derived from municipal and animal waste or sewage.

Dr Gatt's assertion that electricity production from alternative (i.e. "renewable") sources is more expensive than that from fossil fuels is incorrect. Clean electricity obtained from land based wind turbines is now far cheaper than fossil fuel-derived electricity. Given good wind conditions, as in the North Sea, electricity generated by offshore wind farms built in shallow waters (less than 25 metres deep) is not necessarily more expensive than fossil fuel electricity. Though the logistics of construction and maintenance of offshore turbines are quite formidable, offshore winds tend to be stronger and usually compensate for the increased costs by producing more energy.

Dr Gatt went on to imply that "cutting edge" deep sea far-offshore wind technology is still under consideration. This is not so. This technology is still in development and therefore untested. It would be astronomically expensive until it becomes fully established over coming years or decades.

What everybody must realise is this: the cushy days when oil came cheap are over and we cannot afford to be finicky. If Malta wants to ease the impact of soaring oil prices with cheap renewable energy, then land based wind energy is the best option to go for.

Even though Malta is small, there are plenty of uninhabited and unused areas of sufficient size (slightly less than a square mile) on our exposed South West coastal areas to accommodate sizeable land-based wind farms.

It is incomprehensible that we are systematically ruining Malta with huge commercial developments which permanently destroy large areas of land and yet, when it comes to producing clean electricity from wind energy, Mepa comes over all fussy about aesthetics and visual impacts of land based wind turbines. Wind farms are admittedly very conspicuous but they are not permanent installations and, unlike offshore wind farms, they are easy to install and the disturbance of terrain for the pylon foundations is minimal. When better green technology becomes available the turbines are simply removed after their useful life of 20 - 25 years leaving barely a trace. No harm done.

The other argument is that land-based wind energy will harm our tourist industry. This is not so; that tourists are put off by the presence of wind farms is also a myth.

The other worthwhile renewable energy option for Malta is solar photovoltaic panels on our roofs; these are expensive but installation of domestic photovoltaic systems should be actively encouraged by creating attractive incentives.

The bottom line is this: If the general public cannot afford to invest in roof-top photovoltaic panels (government subsidies and refunds are, admittedly, not generous enough) and if the government is opposed to land-based wind turbines on our exposed south western flank, then we have no choice but to learn to live with expensive electricity and not grumble about it. The price of oil can only go up - that is, until it runs out altogether and we are all left in the dark because of lack of foresight.